The world’s leading economies have signed up to a plan that looks to force multinational companies to pay a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15 per cent, economists believe that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates by the end of 20-23, and Robinhood is targeting a valuation of $40bn or more ahead of its public offering. Plus, the FT’s Nicolle Liu explains what the closure of the Apple Daily newspaper means for the media landscape in Hong Kong. World’s leading economies agree global ...
Jul 02, 2021•11 min
Private equity firms have broken a 40-year record with $500bn in deals that helped to propel global mergers and acquisitions activity to an all-time high, and the dominant Chinese ride-hailing company, Didi Chuxing, became the largest Chinese company since Alibaba to list in the US, and nightmarish fears of traffic jams and clogged ports after Brexit never materialised thanks to several factors. Private equity breaks 40-year record with $500bn deals https://www.ft.com/content/cd9571a3-726c-4995-...
Jul 01, 2021•10 min
Today the UK will set out a plan for a simpler, more “nimble” post-Brexit system of state subsidies, and the Japanese conglomerate Hitachi is anticipating a wave of infrastructure spending as it bets on the US market to drive its next phase of growth. Plus, the FT’s private capital correspondent, Kaye Wiggins, investigates the low-profile investors behind the £6.8bn buyout of UK supermarket chain Asda. UK unveils post-Brexit state aid scheme to support industry https://www.ft.com/content/4206d16...
Jun 30, 2021•10 min
A US judge has dismissed two antitrust lawsuits against Facebook, investors are reassessing their conviction in the reflation trade that has captivated Wall Street this year after a hawkish tilt by the US central bank inflicted losses on some fund managers, Binance customers have lost the ability to withdraw and deposit pounds using one of the main UK payments systems. Plus, the FT’s Berlin bureau chief, Guy Chazan, spoke with Armin Laschet, leader of the CDU and frontrunner to replace Angela Me...
Jun 29, 2021•11 min
The UK’s financial watchdog has ordered crypto exchange Binance to stop all regulated activities in Britain, and Denmark’s media industry is pioneering a new bargaining tactic to try and make Google and Facebook pay for news. Plus, the FT’s Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson reports that some US companies blame Amazon’s aggressive hiring practices for the current labor shortage. Financial watchdog bans crypto exchange Binance from UK https://www.ft.com/content/8bc0e5e0-2705-496d-a265-acccaffaee87 Danish ...
Jun 28, 2021•9 min
US President Joe Biden has secured a deal on an infrastructure package worth about $1tn to spend on upgrading roads, bridges and broadband networks over the next eight years, and the US Federal Reserve loosened restrictions on dividends and buybacks by America’s biggest banks as it released an analysis showing the lenders could suffer almost $500bn in losses and still easily meet capital requirements, and the price of bitcoin briefly dropped below $30,000 in volatile trading after a sweeping reg...
Jun 25, 2021•10 min
Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com https://www.ft.com/content/eb36b605-47d9-465a-91f8-d47a4af45fae Tech groups in Taiwan are accused of locking up migrant workers as coronavirus hits the sector, and the rapid rise in prices for raw materials has reversed a decades-long decline in the cost of solar energy. Plus, our global finance correspondent, Robin Wigglesworth, explains how financial memefication is evolving from a niche corner to grow deep roots in stock markets Tech groups in Taiwa...
Jun 24, 2021•10 min
House prices have set records in the US and parts of Europe, and the artificial intelligence-based drug-discovery platform Insilico has raised more than $255m from investors. Plus, the deputy head of the FT’s Lex column, Elaine Moore, explains why Instagram is struggling to stay relevant in today's social media landscape. House prices climb to record levels in US and Europe https://www.ft.com/content/3082fe00-cdb7-4eb9-ab2d-2309b9848114 AI drug discovery start-up Insilico raises more than $255m ...
Jun 23, 2021•10 min
The head of the US Food and Drug Administration is under fire after approving a controversial Alzheimer’s drug, a Covid outbreak at a Chinese port has further disrupted global shipping, and the Tokyo Olympics will have limited spectators when the games begin next month. Plus, the FT’s US sports business correspondent, Sara Germano, explains the US Supreme Court ruling in favour of student athletes who sued the National Collegiate Athletic Association. US medicines watchdog accused of cozy ties w...
Jun 22, 2021•10 min
Reflation trade has been pummelled after the Federal Reserve unexpectedly signalled a shift in its stance on inflation, and, European Central Bank executive Fabio Panetta says the introduction of a digital euro would boost consumers’ privacy. Plus, the FT’s innovation editor, John Thornhill, talks about the new season of the Tech Tonic podcast and its main focus, artificial intelligence. Reflation trades pummelled as Fed shift resets markets https://www.ft.com/content/2fa0c907-f597-49b2-a08d-352...
Jun 21, 2021•11 min
The premium above super-safe US Treasuries that investors demand to buy risky corporate debt has dropped to its lowest level in more than a decade, and tensions between Hong Kong and Taiwan threaten one of the region’s most important trade and investment relationships. Plus, the FT’s race and equalities correspondent, Taylor Nicole Rogers, explains why some black Americans take a dim view of America’s newfound embrace of the Juneteenth holiday. Bond spreads collapse as investors rush into risky ...
Jun 18, 2021•11 min
Federal Reserve officials expect to start raising US interest rates in 2023, Toshiba’s latest corporate crisis is a scandal over efforts to thwart activist shareholders, and the appointment of 32-year-old Big Tech critic, Lina Khan, as chair of the US Federal Trade Commission signals tougher antitrust enforcement. Fed signals first rate rise will come in 2023 https://www.ft.com/content/0bf83e29-5ee2-415e-9e03-0edb38218bf3 Big Tech critic Lina Khan to lead US competition regulator https://www.ft....
Jun 17, 2021•10 min
The Tokyo Olympic Games will need a public bailout of about $800m if spectators are banned, and the end of the interminable EU and US struggle over aircraft subsidies marks a major truce in what seemed an intractable trade conflict. Plus, the FT’s global technology correspondent, Tim Bradshaw, spoke to world wide web founder Tim Berners-Lee about his decision to auction off the original source code as digital art. Tokyo Olympics will need bailout if games go ahead without spectators https://www....
Jun 16, 2021•11 min
The world’s longest undersea electric cable, between the UK and Norway, is set to be switched on this week, the US Federal Reserve could begin discussions this week about shrinking its $120bn monthly asset purchase scheme, and Nato leaders issue a warning about China’s military ambitions. Plus, the FT’s Europe editor, Ben Hall, previews US president Joe Biden’s first meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin. UK and Norway complete world’s longest subsea electricity cable https://www.ft.com/...
Jun 15, 2021•10 min
Israel’s parliament has voted in a new government, ending rightwing stalwart and five-time premier Benjamin Netanyahu’s 12-year grip on power, South Korean shipbuilders and sea freight companies will seek to raise billions of dollars via stock market listings in the second half of 2021 as the industries enjoy a global trade rebound, leaders of the G7 countries back a western rival to China’s Belt and Road Initiative to help developing countries tackle climate change. Plus, the FT’s global China ...
Jun 14, 2021•10 min
Leaders of the G7 economies convening in the UK will announce a pledge to provide 1bn coronavirus doses to poorer countries as part of plan to “vaccinate the world” by the end of 2022, US government bonds shrug off leap in inflation, global regulators are calling for cryptocurrencies to carry the toughest bank capital rules of any asset, and iconic British department store group Selfridges has been put up for sale with an estimated £4bn price tag after receiving an approach from a potential buye...
Jun 11, 2021•10 min
Today’s report on US consumer prices is expected to show that prices further accelerated in May, US president Joe Biden will use this week’s G7 summit to encourage allies to join Washington’s tougher stance towards Beijing, and Olympic sponsors worry if being associated with the games will damage their brand. Plus, the FT’s Eva Szalay interviews a market insider who says popular trading platforms that offer “zero commission” trades are not being entirely honest with customers. Will hot US inflat...
Jun 10, 2021•9 min
Joe Biden’s plan to overhaul the international tax system will face a difficult passage through the US Congress as Republicans threaten to vote down a prospective deal, and millions of internet users lost access to major sites yesterday due to a configuration error at a Silicon Valley internet infrastructure provider, Fastly. Plus, more than 800 people around the world have been arrested in a coordinated police sting that lured drug dealers, mafia members and other criminals onto an encrypted co...
Jun 09, 2021•10 min
US officials say they have recovered $2.3m worth of ransom payments made to hackers who shut down the Colonial pipeline last month, investors pile into Biogen after the US Food and Drug Administration approves the company’s Alzheimer’s treatment, and Mexico’s president Andrés Manuel López Obrador loses his congressional supermajority. Plus, the FT’s Gulf correspondent, Simeon Kerr, explains why Abu Dhabi is shifting away from oil and investing more into arts, media and culture. US says it has re...
Jun 08, 2021•10 min
One of the world’s largest electronics contract manufacturers warns the global chip shortage could last until mid-2022, the G7 advanced economies have struck what they have termed a “historic agreement” on taxing multinationals, and China is taking measures to cool the renminbi rally. Plus, the FT’s venture capital reporter, Miles Kruppa, talks about cryptocurrency startups that aim to disrupt and decentralise finance. Chip shortage to last until at least mid-2022, warns manufacturer https://www...
Jun 07, 2021•10 min
The Biden administration is banning Americans from investing in dozens of Chinese defence and surveillance technology companies, and US job creation is expected to have accelerated sharply in May which could signal an easing of labour shortages. Plus, the FT’s economics editor, Chris Giles, examines whether this current rise in prices is temporary, or whether inflation is back for an extended stay. Washington to bar US investors from 59 Chinese companies https://www.ft.com/content/91e6fb2a-6385-...
Jun 04, 2021•10 min
A wave of high-profile ransomware assaults over the past two months has convulsed the insurance market, US cinema chain AMC is offering popcorn to its retail investor base and its share price surged so fast trading was briefly halted, and the FT’s sports business correspondent Sara Germano talks about covering Naomi Osaka’s pushback on media coverage. Cyber insurers recoil as ransomware attacks ‘skyrocket’ https://www.ft.com/content/4f91c4e7-973b-4c1a-91c2-7742c3aa9922? Cinema chain AMC surges a...
Jun 03, 2021•9 min
Former Apollo Global Management chief executive, Leon Black, has been hit with a lawsuit claiming that he raped and harassed a young Russian model, Opec and its allies caused oil markets to jump by sticking with their plan to only gradually release more barrels into the oil market, and Germany’s Green Party is struggling to maintain momentum as a September election approaches. Plus, Djibouti is one of Africa’s fastest growing economies. The FT’s east and central Africa correspondent, Andres Schi...
Jun 02, 2021•11 min
The surge in pet ownership during the pandemic has helped propel the group behind pet insurer Bought By Many to a valuation of more than $2bn, and a director at the company behind the video game Final Fantasy says 5G could disrupt the reign of the console. Plus, the FT’s greater China correspondent, Kathrin Hille, tells us how Taiwan is dealing with the latest wave of Covid-19 and how it’s affecting chipmakers Lockdown pet boom helps insurer to $2bn valuation https://www.ft.com/content/019cce7c-...
Jun 01, 2021•9 min
American retailers are rushing to secure inventory ahead of the year end holiday season, US financial authorities are preparing to take a more active role in regulating the $1.5tn cryptocurrency market, and Russia released $500m in credit to Belarus as western countries target Minsk with sanctions. Plus, the FT’s Unhedged columnist Robert Armstrong explains why he thinks bitcoin might be better thought of as an equity call option than a currency. US retailers rush to secure holiday season stock ...
May 31, 2021•11 min
The market for special purpose acquisition companies has become an unexpected casualty of the Archegos Capital Management scandal, and the activist investors who won a stunning proxy battle against ExxonMobil this week said the supermajor would need to cut oil production. Plus, the FT’s markets editor, Katie Market, explains why European stocks are rallying while US equities lose some steam. Archegos fallout hits market for blank cheque companies https://www.ft.com/content/ee15fbca-8ef7-4b6f-bb8...
May 28, 2021•11 min
Tesla is set to pay for chips in advance to overcome the global chip shortage, and Amazon locks in its $8.45bn acquisition of MGM. Plus, the FT’s US energy editor, Derek Brower, explains what a court case against Royal Dutch Shell and a historic proxy vote at ExxonMobil means for the oil industry and the environment. Climate activists hail breakthrough victories over Exxon and Shell https://www.ft.com/content/fa9946b9-371b-46ff-b127-05849a1de2da? Amazon-MGM: Will MGM be Amazon’s ticket to the bi...
May 27, 2021•10 min
England’s National Health Service is preparing to scrape the medical histories of 55m patients into a database it will share with third parties, and dozens of American companies that suspended political contributions after the US Capitol attack are sitting on $28m in unspent cash. Plus, the FT’s senior energy correspondent, Anjli Raval, explains how fossil fuel-dependent economies are vulnerable as the world shifts away from oil and gas in order to hit 2050 emissions targets. England’s NHS plans...
May 26, 2021•9 min
Deutsche Bank is relocating 100 bankers from London to offices in the EU and Asia as Germany’s largest lender accelerates a corporate restructuring following Brexit, and France’s President, Emmanuel Macron, is caught between financial prudence and political reality as the French economy recovers with a presidential election looming on the horizon. And the US economy is recovering but unemployment among Black Americans is still much higher compared to other communities. Deutsche accelerates overh...
May 25, 2021•9 min
Today is the final day of the courtroom battle between Apple and Fortnite developer Epic games, which has accused Apple of abusing its position by forcing developers to distribute apps exclusively through the App Store. ExxonMobil faces a pivotal moment this week as shareholders have their say on what critics call an inadequate response to seismic shifts brought on by climate change. The chief executive of AstraZeneca, Pascal Soriot, insists that his company’s Covid-19 has a future, and for the ...
May 24, 2021•8 min
